Acromyrmex cf. crassispinus

A very robust Acromyrmex species wich don't need much space. This species is smaller than Acromyrmex octospinosus and colored chocolate brown. Larger colonies can be kept in multiple basins which are connected together with pipes. They cut various kind of leaves e.g. bramble-, raspberry-, oaks-,roseleaves, privet etc. They cultivate a fungus garden which they do dung, trim and "medicate" with a hormone they produce in special adenoids. They will pulpify the leaves and apply it on the fungus. Old pieces of fungus will be removed and thrown to special midden. They will almost only subsist on special "bulbs" that they can harvest from fungus. This offered Acromyrmex are young colonies, no queens from existing colonies.

Note: We guarantee that all queens in these young colonies are mated.

Distribution: South-America

Taxonomy: Subfamily Myrmicinae, Tribe Attini

Characteristics: very intensive caste

Size:Queen 10 - 12 mm, Workers may ranges from 5 to 15 mm

Appearance: Workers are at the back with thorns

Color: black-brown

Nest building: Usually soil nests with fungus chamber

Nutrition: fungi which the ants cultivate of bramble-, raspberry-, oaks- or roseleaves

Temperature: 20 - 25°C

Soil conditions: loam, humus soil but can also be kept without any substrate

Planting: None

Level: advancer

Attention: Shipping to abroad is only possible on customers risk i.e. no replacement possible on dead arrival.

Acromyrmex sp.

A particularly interesting colored Acromyrmex species from Central America.

Distribution: Central America

Taxonomy: Family Myrmicinae, Tribe Attini

Characteristics: Very polymorph

Appearance: Workers are at the back with thorns

Color: light brown

Nest building: Usually soil nests with fungus chambers

Nutrition: fungi which the ants cultivate of bramble-, raspberry-, oaks-or rose petals breed, but nibble and also like an apple. This Acromyrmex sp. prefer chickweed, clover and rose petals for their fungus.

Atta sp. "South America"

Fungus cultivating ants species, cutting leafs which process to pulp is the basis of their fungus cultivation. This species is a notably large Atta.

Distribution: South-America

Taxonomy: Subfamily Myrmicinae, Tribe Attini

Characteristics: very intensive caste

Appearence of the queen: about 30 mm, very dark brown stout queen

Appearance of the workers: brown, at the back with thorns

Appearance of the soldiers: to 18 mm, well-fortified animals

Nutrition: fungi which the ants cultivate of bramble-, raspberry-, oaks- or roseleafs

Temperature: 24°C

Air humidity: dump-tropical rainforest

Soil conditions: loam, humus soil,

Level: advancer

Risks: Because of the high air humiditiy there is a higher risk of mildews and mites

Specifics: fungus cultivating ant-specie, cutting leafs which process to pulp is the basis of their fungus cultivation..

Attention: Shipping to abroad is only possible on customers risk i.e. no replacement possible on dead arrival.Attention: Breeding from a Queen is very difficult even with fungus and mated Queen. Only for advanced keepers!

Camponotus sp. "South America"

Small until medium sized Formicinae that looks a bit similar to our forest ants (Formica). They are not very aggressive, and can be kept together with other ants in one communal basin. It is an imposingly ants species that like light terrariums.

Taxonomy: Subfamily Formicinae, Tribe Camponotini

Distribution: Central- to Southern America

Color: yellow-orange

Nutrition: Honey- or sugar water and insects and other small animals

Hibernation: No

Climate: tropical rainforest

Nest building: In hollow stems and small branches of trees or bushes

Planting: nothing specific

Level: medium

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Cephalotes (Cryptocerus) cf. pusillus

Very individual shaped Myrmicinae which can close their nest entries with their head similar like Camponotus truncatus. This species is ideal for keeping in a community basin (basin with different ants species) because they don't attack other species. They even can't be attacked by other species because of their individual shape. In danger they duck down like a turtle on to the ground and even their antennas can be hidden in special notch on the head. In addition Cephalotes have a very good sight and reacts very fast on movements in their environment. Some Cephalotes species can control their flight direction during free fall with the purpose to land on their nest tree.

Important keeping notice: The nest branches have got to be able to dry off permanently. A good air circulation is essential. Mould growth in nesting area can kill the ants in the long-term.

Taxonomy: Subfamilie Myrmicinae, Tribe Cephalotini

Distribution: South America

Color: silvery-black

Size: 3 - 7 mm, Queen: approx. 9 mm

Hibernation: No

Nutrition: Honey/sugarwater, insects, spiders and other small animals

Temperature: from cool through very hot 15 - 30°C

Soil conditions: not necessary because nests in wood

Nest building: nests in small branches of trees and hollow stems of bushes

Planting: Plants with nectary like Passiflora, Impatiens, etc. useful

Specifics: polymorph (3 - 7 mm)

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Cyphomyrmex sp.

Fungi breeding myrmicinae from south America. Cultivates the fungus of insect feces/corpus, pieces of fruits. It's very appropriated to combine them in one basin with other ant species. Also aggressive ant species are almost innocuous to them because they seems to have an daunting substance. They don't cut leaves.

Taxonomy: Subfamily Myrmicinae,Tribe Attini

Origin: Southern America

Hibernation: No

Color: medium till dark brown

Nest bulding: Within fungi under rotten wood

Nutrition: fungi which the ants cultivate of pieces of fruits and insect feces/corpus.

Ectatomma cf. tuberculatum

This ant has beautiful copper red color. They form medium large colonies and build soil nests. These are always on the trunk of a small tree. Interestingly, the nest entrance is extended by plant material on the trunk. For large colonies of this inlet house may well be 100 cm high. By day you can watch on a semi-high bushes and grasses in a watchful attitude often with open mandibles. These ants are not suitable for keeping in community basins with other species. They are skilled hunters easily overwhelm other ants. This Ectatomma cf. tuberculatum species is ideal for keeping in a planted tropical terrarium.

Nest building: This species nests in soil and hollow tree branches (Very suitable for keeping in Ytong-Stones)

Planting: Various rain forest plants (recommended)

Level: medium

Activity: diurnal (good lighting required)

Specifics: Formicine with big eyes and a very good sight. They are moving by jumping from leaf to leaf and they recognizes their prey from larger distances. Persons are recognized and followed with their eyes by wagging the heads. If they feel threatened they are able to move backwards. Is able to spray their acid very aimed.

Here these ants exist predominantly in rotten wood. High humidity is vital for this ant. You have to have a fast recruitment behavior and by their chemical defenses, they can defend themselves against much larger and more aggressive ants. In the long run Megalomyrmex is spec. not recommended for a community tank. Through their strong chemical defenses expel them from the other ants feeding grounds.

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Colony
- 79.00 €

Colony
- Currently not available

Polygyne colony with 60 - 100 workers

Colony
- Currently not available

Polygyne colony with 100 - 150 workers

Odontomachus cf. haematodus

These ants are able to catapult themselfs up to 40 cm far thru sudden lock up of their mandibles. This mandible lock up is the fastest known mechanism in the fauna. The upper jaw closes with a speed of 38 to 64 m/s. Thru locking up their jaws they are anesthetizing their prey to afterwards sting it to death. It is improper for a corporate tank/formicarium because they will attack any other species at first encounter.

Taxonomy: Subfamily Ponerinae, Tribe Ponerini

Distribution: South America

Color: black

Size: 8 - 12 mm

Hibernation: No

Nutrition: Sugar water and insects

Temperature: 24 - 28 °C

Nest building: Soil nests and rotten wood

Keeping level: easy

Dangers: can sting

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Small colony
- Currently not available

With 5-10 workers

Colony
- Currently not available

100-150 workers

Odontomachus chelifer

Odontomachus chelifer is one of the world's largest Odontomachus species. Nests are usually created directly in the soil or between the roots of trees. In established colonies the metallic shimmering individuals appear slightly polymorph with obvious difference in size. Larger workers reach a size of more than 2 cm.

Taxonomy: Subfamily Ponerinae, Tribe Ponerini

Origin: Central and South America

Color: Reddish brown with lighter legs and metallic shimmer

Size: 16 - 20 mm

Dormant phase: None

Nutrition: Honey/sugar water and insects

Temperature: 22 - 26 °C

Nest building: Soil nests

Specifics: Able to sting

Attention: Shipping at winter time and outside Europe at customer's risk!

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Colony
- Currently not available

5 - 10 workers

Odontomachus erythrocephalus

Odontomachus erythrocephalus is a remarkably colored species of trap-jaw ants nesting directly in soil or under objects like rotting wood. The red head and yellow legs are very prominent characteristics of this species besides it's highly aggressiv behavior.

Taxonomy: Subfamily Ponerinae, Tribe Ponerini

Origin: Central America

Color: Red head, yellow legs and reddish brown body

Size: 10 - 14 mm

Dormant phase: None

Nutrition: Honey/sugar water and insects

Temperature: 22 - 26 °C

Nest building: Soil nests

Specifics: Able to sting

Attention: Shipping at winter time and outside Europe at customer's risk!

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Small colony
- Currently not available

40 - 60 workers

Odontomachus hastatus

Very nice colored Odontomachus that commonly nests in the crow of trees between epiphytes. This species creates artistic nests in shape of a large sphere which is padded with moss and other small plant matter.

Taxonomy: Subfamily Ponerinae, Tribe Ponerini

Distribution: Southern America

Hibernation: No

Color: yellow-brown

Nutrition: Sugar water and insects

Temperature: 24 - 28 °C

Climate: Tropical

Nest building: Soil nests and rotten wood

Keeping level: easy

Dangers: can sting

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Colony
- Currently not available

With 50-70 workers

Young colony
- Currently not available

5 - 10 workers

Pachycondyla apicalis

Big and long- legged antspecies that combines several preferences of other antspecies. Pachycondyla apicalis have almost the same visual ability as Myrmecia (bulldogant), furthermore apicalis is highly adaptive (learns quick to accept food offered by hand) and is able to stridulate clearly hearable just as Paraponera and Atta.Unlike to most of the other antspecies apicalis do not depend on chemical traces because it predominantly navigate by the use of visual orientation.While transportation of prey back to the nest they use the alternative to jump off a twig and is stil able to find their way home after short reorientation (subjective study).This antspecies use the ability to lead conspecifics through tandem walks and do hunt single and also in packs.Pachycondyla apicalis is unique and not comparable with other Pachycondyla species.

Pachycondyla cf. verenae

This medium sized ant spcies is predestinated for a planted tropical terrarium. It is a very active diurnal hunter. Socialization with other species is not recommended. Larger colonies are showing a strong aggressiveness. It is a nice counterpart to the famous Diacamma sp.

Pachycondyla villosa

A black-silvery shaded Pachycondyla species which comunicate very intensively. This species nests in dry tree branches and also in epiphytes like bromeliead. Colonies do not become too large compared to Pachycondyla apicalis for example.

Pogonomyrmex barbatus

A North American harvester ant with a copper red color. Pogonomyrmex species typically harvest seeds, which are stored as an additional food source. However, large amounts of insects are captured by colonies.

Taxonomy: Myrmicinae

Color: copper red

Distribution: Northern America

Nutrition: mostly seeds from different rampant plants (also grasses), but also insects and honeywater

Temperature: 25 - 35 °C

Hibernation: no *1

Air humidity: dry climate

Nest building: soil nests

Planting: nothing specific

Class: easy to keep

Untreated hand-picked plant seeds will be included with all Pogonomyrmex sold.

*1: Keeping this ants for 2-3 months around 20°C is recommended.

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Small colony
- Currently not available

With about 10-15 workers

Medium colony
- Currently not available

With about 20-30 workers

Large colony
- Currently not available

With about 40-50 workers

Large Colony
- Currently not available

- with 500 workers

Pogonomyrmex rugosus

A beautiful North American harvester ant. The mainly black coloration appears shiny blue under light and also shows red highlights. Pogonomyrmex species typically harvest seeds, which are stored as an additional food source. However, large amounts of insects are captured by colonies.

Taxonomy: Myrmicinae

Color: blackish-red; color is highly variable

Distribution: Northern America

Nutrition: mostly seeds from different rampant plants (also grasses), but also insects and honeywater

Temperature: 25 - 35 °C

Hibernation: no *1

Air humidity: dry climate

Nest building: soil nests

Planting: nothing specific

Class: easy to keep, but quite aggressive

Untreated hand-picked plant seeds will be included with all Pogonomyrmex sold.

*1: Keeping this ants for 2-3 months at about 20°C is recommended.

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Colony
- Currently not available

With about 15 workers

Pseudomyrmex cf. pallidus

This is a small but noticeable Pseudomyrmecinae from North America, which sticks out because of her yellow color and special living. This species lives in hollow stems of small plants and bushes. A noticeable characteristic is the fast and jerkily movement of the ants and also the disproportional large black eyes.

Taxonomy: Subfamily: Pseudomyrmecinae

Origin: North America

Color: yellow

Size: 6 - 7 mm

Hibernation: no

Nutrition: honey/sugar water and insects

Temperature: from warm to hot: 24 - 30°C

Soil conditions: not necessary because nests in wood

Nest building: nests in small branches of plants and small stems of bushes

Pseudomyrmex gracilis

Pseudomyrmexgracilisoccurswell intothe tropicalpart of South Americain the southernpart of North America,centralAmerica.Youwill be shown atvariousof colors and sizes.This largePseudomyrmecinaeinhabitedhollowbranches.In theposition, you canusedry branchesof blackberriesorraspberries,scrapeoutthe marrow ofanimalsto buildtheir nest.Allbranches mustbe able to dryafterirrigationso as not tomolds.The species can bewellsocialized,other antstheynimblydodges.Youcansee very wellandreact to slightmovementsin the visual field.Yourwasp-likeappearance andrapid jerkymovements are anexception forarborealants.The animalsare very active andfouroperatecontinuouslyduring the day,youshould offerthema largeterrarium withlots of plants.